Vivian Balakrishnan apologises to PSP's Leong Mun Wai after ‘illiterate’ comment circulates online
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan (left) apologised to NCMP Leong Mun Wai for comments he made in Parliament on Sept 14, 2021. PHOTOS: MCI/YOUTUBE
Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has apologised to Progress Singapore Party (PSP) Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai for remarks the minister made in Parliament.
Dr Balakrishnan, in a Facebook post on Wednesday (Sept 15), said: "I called Mr Leong Mun Wai today to apologise for my private comments to a colleague in Parliament yesterday. "I disagree with him on the issue, but I should not have said what I said. Mr Leong has accepted my apology."
During a marathon debate on two motions on jobs and livelihoods in the House on Tuesday, Manpower Minister Tan See Leng and Mr Leong had several exchanges after Dr Tan delivered his speech. At one point, after Mr Leong had spoken, a voice could be heard saying "he's illiterate". Later, after another exchange between Dr Tan and Mr Leong, a microphone picked up someone saying: "Seriously, how did he get into RI?... Must have been a lousy school." It is understood that these remarks were made by Dr Balakrishnan.
Hot mic catches 'illiterate', 'lousy school' remarks
Indiscreet remarks, apparently about NCMP Leong Mun Wai, were overheard in Parliament on Tuesday, 14 September 2021. (SCREENGRAB: Ministry of Communications and Information)
Footage from the Parliament livestream shows that the remarks were made around the time when Manpower Minister Tan See Leng sat down after he addressed questions by Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Leong Mun Wai of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). Dr Tan is seen looking in the direction of Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who is sitting next to him. The livestream covers Tuesday's often heated 13.5 hour debate on the motion tabled by Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on securing Singaporeans’ jobs and livelihood, and a separate motion by Leong and fellow PSP NCMP Hazel Poa on foreign talent policy. A considerable part of the debate was focused on several ministers rebutting Leong's views on the Singapore-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
At the 9:47:56 mark of the marathon session, shortly after Dr Tan spoke in response to Leong's motion, someone can be heard saying, "He is illiterate." Subsequently, at the 9:49:17 mark, after Dr Tan delivers his remarks, someone asks, "How did he get into RI?" A voice chimes in about a “lousy school". Someone then says, "I'm from Monk's Hill." According to an interview with Dr Tan published in The Peak on 1 July 2013, the minister studied at Monk’s Hill primary and secondary schools. In the background of the clip, the mic at the podium where Dr Tan spoke is glowing red, indicating that it has not been switched off.
Vivian Balakrishnan apologises to PSP's Leong Mun Wai for 'illiterate', 'lousy school' comments picked up by Parliament microphone
As MPs crossed swords in Parliament in a lengthy debate on jobs and foreign worker policies in Singapore on Tuesday (Sept 14), Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan found himself in a hot mic situation.
The 60-year-old apologised to Progress Singapore Party's Leong Mun Wai in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening. "I called Mr Leong Mun Wai today to apologise for my private comments to a colleague in Parliament yesterday. I disagree with him on the issue, but I should not have said what I said. "Mr Leong has accepted my apology."
In a segment of the session, live-streamed on YouTube, some sharp-eared viewers heard another voice saying "He's illiterate" as NCMP Leong asked Manpower Minister Tan See Leng for clarification on the data discussed. The comment was followed by "Seriously, how did he get into [Raffles Institution]? Must have been a lousy school." These words appeared to be picked up by a microphone that was not switched off after Dr Tan spoke at the podium.
Has the Men-in-White turn Black
Transport Minister S Iswaran was arrested on Tuesday as part of a probe by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
The anti-graft agency said the minister is out on bail currently and his passport has been impounded. As part of the same probe, property tycoon Ong Beng Seng was also arrested on the same day in relation to his interactions with Mr Iswaran.
Hotel Properties Limited -- founded by Mr Ong -- said no charges have been filed. The Singapore-based businessman is out on bail of S$100,000 and is travelling today. He will surrender his passport to the CPIB when he returns.
related: How did CPIB come about and what powers does it have in investigating corruption in Singapore?
